Cross-border transport has faced a scenario of adjustments in recent years that has tested the ability of companies to sustain their operations and, at the same time, maintain the investments necessary to serve their customers.
In this context, Transportes Olympic has chosen to continue with the renewal of its fleet, even during periods of greatest pressure for the business.
“We have always believed that, even in difficult times, you have to renew your fleet,” said Fernando Páez, general manager of Transportes Olympic.
Currently, the company has more than 250 units and approximately 550 trailers , including refrigerated boxes and platforms, according to Páez.
The strategy is part of an operation that began in June 1990 and this year marks its 36th year . During that period, the company has navigated different market conditions, particularly in transportation between Mexico and the United States.
“I believe that resilience, discipline, and willpower are what have given us this permanence here,” he commented.
Páez identified 2022 as one of the most challenging periods for cross-border transportation companies . He explained that after the pandemic, the number of operators in the United States with non-resident licenses increased, which, in his view, created an oversupply of transportation and put upward pressure on rates.
Other factors have been added to this scenario that directly affect the operation.
“There are three things that are completely against us. There are the tariffs, there is the exchange rate, and there is the price of fuel,” Páez said.
Given these conditions, the executive pointed out that maintaining an orderly, responsible and financially sound company has been part of Transportes Olympic’s strategy to remain in the market.
Prepare from the operation
Fleet renewal is just one part of the strategy. Safety and training have also been key priorities at Transportes Olympic.
The company has three on-site instructors, monitoring staff, a safety director, and simulators , in addition to training programs for its operators.
One of them is the English program, implemented since 2010 to prepare operators who carry out operations in the United States.
“Fortunately, this mandatory English regulation for operators caught us very, very well prepared because we had a program in place since 2010. We didn’t really have to start from scratch, but simply strengthen the programs we had, add applications, and continue working hard on our English program,” Páez explained.
According to the executive, when language proficiency reviews began to be applied more strictly, Transportes Olympic recorded zero operators taken out of service due to this measure .
Safety has also been a central focus of the operation. Páez noted that the company has dedicated time, resources, and internal structure to this area, from training to monitoring.
“I think that’s what defines us, I think that’s the image we have, because we’ve invested a lot of time and money in security,” he said.
Prepare yourself for the good times
Beyond responding when market conditions become complicated, Páez specified that Transportes Olympic’s strategy has been to anticipate during periods of better conditions.
“The truth is that we have always believed in preparing ourselves in good times for bad times,” he stated.
Following that logic, the company has maintained the renewal of units even in a complex economic scenario, a decision that Páez believes has contributed to sustaining the operation and preparing the company for market changes.
In this regard, Transportes Olympic has sought to ensure that decisions made during periods of better conditions allow it to respond when the environment changes. Fleet renewal, along with safety and training, are part of this preparation with which the company aims to ensure the continuity of its cross-border operations .
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